Unreliable trains

[FrankNatoli]

Late April 2026, used trains from Cefalù in Sicily to Milazzo, then ferry to Lipari, and almost missed the ferry, despite a scheduled one hour margin between arriving in Milazzo and ferry departure, because train was severely delayed enroute.
On trip back to Cefalù, later in the day, train stopped some ten miles east of Cefalù and didn't move for one hour, "problems on the track".
Last September, Trenitalia decided to stage a full day national strike on the day we were scheduled to take trains from Rapallo to Modena.
Thankfully, the hotel let us stay one extra night.
On the day train service was resumed, the train from La Spezia to Parma was severely delayed and we missed our connection in Parma to Modena.
A few days later, the train from Milano Centrale to Milano Malpensa stopped service halfway for "track work", no bus service to cross the gap.
Had to find a bus at Milano Centrale to Milano Malpensa.
Two Februarys ago, one month in Firenze, had repeated severe delays and one total cancellation of Frecciarossa, no explanation.
Moral of the story: never rely upon Italian trains for connections, to other trains, ferries or airplanes.
Not quite First World.

 

[Ian Sutton]

Don't come to the UK then. We've found Italian trains very reliable. The odd *cancellation, but it's been a rarity. Delays rare and it's been amusing watching Italians on the Freccia trains fretting over a train a mere 5 minutes late, whereas in the UK, 5 mins late is officially classified as 'not late' and is rather normal.

What is very noticeable when comparing the two, is that UK trains often have little contingency in the turnaround at the ends of the line. 30 mins is not at all unusual, and on the cross-country routes especially, the incoming train can eat most if not all (and some) of that. Hence the return leg starts late and there's little to no chance of catching that up. Conversely in Italy, the train is often sat waiting at the start station an hour or so before it's due to leave. Even if it was late arriving, it can catch up that time for when it departs.

The added kicker, is Italian trains being significantly cheaper.

Strikes are indeed more common in Italy, but keeping up to date on plans for them often helps adapt.

* and a cancellation and a platform change have provided me with a moment of amusement (and no little pride). Station announcements are notoriously difficult to hear the world over. As a tourist learning the language, it's a chance to test my listening skills. So I typically focus to make out what the announcement is. If you're local, you're not listening as intently. So when the announcements happened and confusion emerged on the platform, it was me letting the other passengers know what was said. I love the irony in that situation.

 

[FrankNatoli]

We try to make our international travel plans at least nine months in advance, especially including airline and hotel reservations.
Although the Italians have an informative website regarding who is striking where and when, that's only a few weeks in advance, so there's no way to plan around a nationwide strike nine months in advance.
As for the "a little late", as I noted in my original post, it's not so much the number of minutes as the ability to make connections to other trains, ferries or flights.
One can plan in a "decent" margin for delays but the Italians, again see my original post, often exceed any "decent" margin.

 

[California Go Girl]

I'm sorry you have had these experiences - so frustrating! I have traveled extensively on Italian trains over the years and have been happy with the robust schedules and good information available about schedules, strikes and delays, even better now with the Trenitalia app. Most towns in Sicily are much better connected by buses than trains, but it is still incredible to me that so much travel is possible without renting a car. I am a fan!

 

[Penn251]

We have found Italian trains to be mostly reliable (with a few notable exceptions that led to serendipitous adventures). The occasional strikes have been manageable with a few days notice. If you can "roll with the punches" there is generally a workaround for the occasional problem. The slow travel mind-set lends itself to that. It is a pleasure traveling where so many places are accessible by train with convenient scheduling. It is quite a contrast to the United States where train lines rarely go where you want to or at a time that is convenient. We are big fans of the Italian train system.

 

[BryanS]

I find the Trenitalia app is a must, it has saved me on several occasions. Yes, trains can be late and making a connection can be a problem but more than once I have been able to re-book my connecting train before my delayed train arrives at the station, using the app. Of course this only works if there are multiple trains for the same route. Just like with flights, I try to make sure I have allowed enough time for the connections when booking a train.

 

[FrankNatoli]

I find the Trenitalia app is a must, it has saved me on several occasions. Yes, trains can be late and making a connection can be a problem but more than once I have been able to re-book my connecting train before my delayed train arrives at the station, using the app. Of course this only works if there are multiple trains for the same route. Just like with flights, I try to make sure I have allowed enough time for the connections when booking a train.

Absolutely, I always use the Trenitalia app and it works very well.
That was what shocked me last September, on our train from Modena to Milano Centrale, to only then discover that the Trenord connection from Milano Centrale to Milano Malpensa was not running, track work.
I had purchased the tickets well in advance; they knew they weren't able to deliver the service but never bothered to notify me [that was Trenord not Trenitalia].

 

[FrankNatoli]

I'm sorry you have had these experiences - so frustrating! I have traveled extensively on Italian trains over the years and have been happy with the robust schedules and good information available about schedules, strikes and delays, even better now with the Trenitalia app. Most towns in Sicily are much better connected by buses than trains, but it is still incredible to me that so much travel is possible without renting a car. I am a fan!

In general, I agree with you, but there are these repeated unpleasant "exceptions".
To be honest, there is also something about the Italian culture that leaves public service [e.g., trains] or large company service utterly careless about the paying public.
A few years ago, my wife was traveling with a cousin and the cousin's mother and daughter, four women altogether, flying from Newark to Munich on United then connecting to Rome on Lufthansa.
All four checked in at Newark at the same time.
When they got to Rome, three got their luggage and one, my wife, did not.
The Lufthansa baggage service woman was insolent, on the order of "what do you want me to do, the baggage did not arrive".
So it became my problem, back in the U.S.
I couldn't get any help from United or Lufthansa in the U.S., so I called the Lufthansa baggage number in Munich and used my high school German to explain the problem.
The woman humorously replied "would you like to continue in English" and I said "yes".
She ultimately tracked the problem back to United, which had somehow never put my wife's baggage on the flight to Munich and the baggage was still in Newark.
Ultimately, United flew the baggage non-stop into Rome and then Lufthansa arranged for a delivery to the small town in Basilicata that my wife was visiting.
The highlight of the Munich moment was the Lufthansa woman saying "well, you know the Italians, it is impossible to get them to react to any problem whatsoever".

 

[Amy-Hikes]

My two cents about trains. I have heard from people who live in Southern Italy, not experienced it myself, that trains are less reliable in the south than the north. I've been to central and northern italy twice in the last four years. The only time there was a glitch with trains, a bus was offered instead, for the portion of the track between Aosta to Turin that was under construction.

 

[FrankNatoli]

My two cents about trains. I have heard from people who live in Southern Italy, not experienced it myself, that trains are less reliable in the south than the north. I've been to central and northern italy twice in the last four years. The only time there was a glitch with trains, a bus was offered instead, for the portion of the track between Aosta to Turin that was under construction.

I have no doubt your report of experiences is accurate. That said, see above, most of my train problems were in the north not south. Worst of all was Trenord suspending service between Milano Centrale and Milana Malpensa, no notice to existing ticket holders, just a big surprise when you arrive at Milano Centrale and service to Milano Malpensa is unavailable, and you're left to wander the streets outside of the station to find a bus to the airport.
And, even with a later complaint, Trenord refused to refund the prepurchase ticket price.

 

[Amy-Hikes]

Such a complication. That's a drag.

 

[BryanS]

Having lived in Basilicata and Le Marche I would say the train service reliability is not any different but the services provided are. Despite Trenitalia operating nationally, the service/routes they provide in each region depends on part with the agreements that they have with that specific region.

For example: Trenitalia and Basilicata have been at odds over providing Frecciarossa service through the region. It had been offered in the past but as the tracks still need upgrades Trenitalia has suspended this service (they can't agree on funding). Basilicata has also been without train service between Potenza and Foggia for over a year due to condition of the tracks, although bus service has been substituted. This periodically also happens with the Potenza connections to Eboli and Taranto.

We always told clients visiting Basilicata to rent a car as getting around by trains and buses can involve a lot of their vacation time and many frustrations.

The train system in Italy is extensive and complicated while problems are compounded by the various entities involved.